South Deerfield, MA – Richard Bridges, 97. Of South Deerfield, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. On October 16, 2025. He was born in Montague, June 23, 1928, to Ethel and Clinton Bridges. He lived his entire life on the family homestead in South Deerfield. Richard graduated from the Deerfield High School in 1946.
In 1947 he married the former Evelyn Wells and together they raised their son, Richard. And daughter, Dayle. In 1976 he married the former Wanda Norwood Zimnowski. They remained married 38 years until her death in 2014.
Richard loved woodworking and worked as a carpenter all his life. The last 14 years, prior to his retirement, were at Amherst College as a Carpenter Foreman. As the 4th generation owner of the Bridges Homestead, much of his life was spent maintaining the grounds and wood lot of his beloved property. For many years he grew and sold strawberries, he planted and maintained an orchard, and grew and sold Christmas trees. For close to thirty years, he kept hives of honeybees that he rented to local orchards for pollination.
Richard loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing but he was especially an avid hunter with black-powder, gun and bow. He was very artistic and creative and enjoyed oil painting and music. Most family members and friends own one, or more, of his beautiful landscape paintings. From the 1950’s to the 1980’s, he played drums in several square dance bands in Massachusetts and southern Vermont. He was also a faithful Patriots and Red Sox fan. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Wanda, and after a 43-day tour to Alaska, they had traveled in 48 states and several Canadian Provinces as far north as the Arctic Circle.
Richard’s greatest love, however, was spending time with his immediate and extended family and friends. His quiet strength, caring manner, loyalty, sense of humor, and respect for all, will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his daughter, Dayle Best, son-in-law, Gary Best, one stepdaughter, Pamela Krause, her husband Bill Krause, 10 grand (and great) grandchildren, 1 great, great grandson, and many nieces and nephews. All of whom he treasured.
He was predeceased by his wife, Wanda, son Richard A. Bridges, step-daughter, Carol Griss, parents Ethel and Clinton Bridges, sisters Marjorie Blake, Ella Newcomb, and Ruth Herzig, daughter-in-law, Mirium Bridges, niece Kristine Jorge, and nephew, Phil Cole.
The family will host an open house at the Bridges Homestead on November 1, 2025, from 2:oo to 4:00 pm, with a short prayer service for Richard at the end.
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